De Greenlaw bucking the stereotype
One young prodigy is aiming to break the inaccurate stereotype often associated with bowls, bringing the sport into vogue with her peers and classmates.
13-year-old Taylor De Greenlaw made waves at the Australian Open last week, not only competing against vastly more experienced opponents, but defeating them.
She participated in the women’s fours with teammates Louise Cronan, Brenda Thompson and current Bowls Australia board director Louise Whitton, and would lead expertly as the quartet reached the semi-finals of the tournament.
The foursome would eventually fall to eventual runners-up Jamie-Lee Worsnop, Brianna Smith, Ellen Ryan and Kristina Krstic, but would lose no friends along the way.
The daughter of Bowls Australia board director Jess de Greenlaw, the teenager’s goal is to buck the trend of bowls being considered a sport solely for the elderly.
“We need to break the stigma that this is an old person’s sport because it’s really not,” De Greenlaw said.
“It’s a heap of fun, just go out and give it a go, put some bowls down and if you don’t like it, well you’re wrong.”
The budding athlete cherished her time at her maiden Australian Open, labelling the television rinks on the final days of the event as one of her major career aspirations.
“The whole experience has been amazing, to have the opportunity to come out here a lot of people wouldn’t have,” she said.
“To watch these professionals, their skills and learn from that is brilliant and the whole thing has motivated me to train every day.
“Hopefully [I can get to the TV rink], if I stay dedicated and keep putting bowls down with lots of practice.
“The skill that the professionals have is amazing and hopefully I can get it somewhere near that level one day.”
